Keen observers of the country’s political developments in recent months would not have failed to notice the creeping paralyses as India attains the age of 34. Despite the massive majority in Parliament including the Rajya Sabha, the ruling party is not able to rule the country. This is clearly evident from its confused action, indecision, wide-spread social unrest, deepening economic crisis. The Ordinance banning strikes is yet another proof of the paralysis. But the strikes and lockouts are merrily going on despite the ordinance. The economy is so much shattered that a latest World Bank report said India is pushed as the 11th poorest country among 150 members of the UNO.
The general belief is that a government will be stable if it has a good majority in the legislature. But our ruling party has a much bigger majority. If the gate is opened today, there will be a stampede of MPs and MLAs. So the problem is not of majority. This “majority brings stability” stability rule does not work under Indian conditions. The chief ministers in the States are enjoying an equally comfortable majority. This majority, however, did not lead to stability. A stable government need not mean a good government. Pahadia in Rajasthan was changed not because he did not have a majority. Antulay is not able to govern not because his party is weak. Gundu Rao in Karnataka is said to be on the way out not because of want of confidence in the party. So too, Anjaiah in AP and all other chief ministers. In fact, all these persons are suffering from indigestion as far as votes are concerned. Votes come without even asking for it. So, the problem is not wanted of party stability but stability in society.
The popular belief that a massive majority will lead to stable government has proved false in India. However, can a government be stable when the society is not? The Janata Party which had a stunning victory, also collapsed for the very same reason. At least the Janata can be excused because it was a conglomerate of conflicting interests but that is not the case with the Cong. I, which is a one single party. There is none to question the leader who enjoys the confidence of the masses. The chief ministers are facing problems not from the Opposition – the less said the better about the Opposition mad house the better – but from their own party. That means as days pass no political party, even after getting a landslide victory in the general election, can manage the affairs. This has become the pattern of the day. The tendency to pull apart and pull down the leadership will increase even within a party. This is not the case of the Cong I alone. Every party is facing a revolt more from within, the CPM, CPI are no exception
That means a political party, even if it sweeps the poll, will lose all meaning as it can’t assure a good government. Already, the thinking section of the population has lost faith in the electoral process because it is convinced that people are not assured of economic change, let alone social change. When a party winning an election and forming a stable government cannot assure economic or social change, what is the use of that government? The people are naturally wondering why they have been pushed to this precipice. So when a duly elected government is not able to rule, the leadership will have to find a reason to confuse the gullible and shirk responsibility. Hence, the discovery of foreign hand, Gulf money, CIA, plot of a civil war, Muslim-Christian “global conspiracy”, Communist threat etc. Non-political leaders of persecuted minorities should educate their people on the failure of the so-called democratic process in India and hold discussions on the suitable alternative. Militant sections among Dalits in Karnataka and elsewhere had given a call to observe Aug. 15 Independence Day as “Black Day” and also to quit Hinduism on that day because of the increasing realisation that freedom has brought nothing to them. This realisation is coming in more and more people. Please think: you also will realise the political paralysis creeping in India.